Skinner American Hazelnut Seeds

Currently unavailable Most Northern Form-Early Ripening Hazelnut-Consistent Production of Delicious Small Nuts

This is probably the most northern form of American hazelnut hardy to -40 F. Short season selection with nuts ripening in 70-90 days. Compact plants are semi dwarf reaching 4-6 ft. with few runners. Small catkins are produced close to the branches difficult for deer to consume during the winter. Originally from the Skinner Nursery in Manitoba, this Morden selection was adapted to the dry prairie of western Canada. I purchased the plants from the late Clayton Berg and his nursery in Montana. 

Medium yields here and consistent from year to year. After 15 years the plants are 4-6 ft. tall. with equal width. This one always has a crop here at our farm no matter what. The nuts are slightly above average in terms of size for the American Hazelnut and are produced in dense clusters. 

This species of hazelnut is the best for hardiness. A few years ago the deer ate the hazels directly off the bush husk and all. That must of been one delicious taste test. The tight catkins add to the winter hardiness of the plant making it difficult for dry winter air to freeze dry the catkins which can happen to less hardy selections. Another aspect of the plant is its dense stolon growth habit. This allows easy clonal reproduction as well as identifying plants with heavier fruit set in locations that normally would not be conducive to almost all other types of fruit or nuts. I think this is one of the few plants that can tolerate the dry windy locations of the northern plains and produce a delicious nut high in oil. The Skinner form of hazelnut is a rather rare form of the American hazelnut and not cultivated to any extent. Part of this is due to its obscure outside the range location of those that grew it and bred it over time to find the only hazels that could take the cold conditions of near Artic proportions.